Re: [Amc-list] Classic Brakes

["jerijan baldwin" <jerijan@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings,
I've a few Ramblers, manual and power brakes...
My experience is thus:
Power brakes are wonderful...when they work well.  My '62 has had a troubled
power ball (brake booster) for some time and being one year only it's been
fun finding the correct rebuilding spares for it.  I haven't yet.
With the power ball out of the system (ie, vacuum disconnected) it stops OK,
it just takes two feet squishing the brake pedal with every bit of squish
two feet can squish!  But it does stop it.  It sounds like your manual
system is about the same.
Generally I've found the power systems have been without failure and that is
about 100%.  I've only had troubles with two of them, the '62 and my '54
with 'Tredl-Vac'.  Both manifest the same when in 'not working well'
mode...hugely a lot of pedal pressure required.  Once the Tredl-Vac was
rebuilt it worked wonderfully again!  
The '62's brakes still are not what they ought to be due to the power ball.
The M/C is new (and one year only), the W/C's are all renewed as are the
shoes and hardware.  I wonder, and have always wondered, if the Rambler
brakes are inadequate across the board.
My '63's brakes are just fine and dandy.  Smooth, soft operation and a
confident feel.
The Americans are all manual brakes and none feel 'uncomfortable', but they
do feel as though they could be better.
On my '65 American convertible I removed all the original brakes and
replaced 'em with '81 Spirit brakes (manual disc/drum) using all the parts
straight out of the Spirit.  The drums were larger (wider) than the American
but everything was a great fit; no modifications required other than the
replacement of the 'early' lower ball joints with 'later' ones (and thus the
component to which the ball joint's tapered pin inserted).  Everything else
was a perfect interchange!  (I bought the Spirit for the wheels...AMC
Rallyes...but was wicked happy to find brand new brakes on all four wheels.
There were parts galore on that car, including a four (or is it five?) speed
floor shifted tranny, a healthy lomilage 258 and accessories (alternator,
starter, carb, etc, etc).  What a DEAL!!)
Ambassador brakes tend to be all power and essentially adequate; if you've a
Classic and wish better basic braking performance, switch to Ambassador
stuff, preferably LATER Ambassador components (as in Disc Brakes).  The
interchange tends to be quite straightforward and wicked simple.

If you want some pointers as to what fits what, either ask me about what
I've so far done or go to Frank...he's 'been there, done that, etc, etc'!.

Anyway, I don't know if I've answered your question (is this a trait of the
'62 Classic?), but I simply believe ALL Rambler brakes leave something to be
desired...

Jerijan



-----Original Message-----
From: amc-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:amc-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of mask1966@xxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 11:02 AM
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Amc-list] Classic Brakes

Hey Guys,
I finally picked up the '62 Rambler Classic Custom I bought a few of 
weeks ago. It is everything and more (41K original miles is very nice 
condition) I hoped for. It has it's problems, but the one I find the 
most disturbing is the brakes or lack of. The master cylinder was 
rebuilt last year and wheel cylinders replaced the year before, but the 
braking is poor at best. It takes a lot of pedal pressure just to slow 
down at city speeds. Road speeds are really scary. It has manual brakes 
(no power) and does not pull either left or right. It just takes a long 
time to slow down. Is this the norm for this model or do I have a 
problem? How does your braking compare? I thought with a dual M/C and 
new W/C, this thing should stop at least as good as my '53 Ford and '65 
Chevy with drums. Give a new AMC owner a little help before I rear end 
someone.

Also my temp gauge does not work. A previous owner installed an 
accessory type gauge under the dash, but I would like to fix the stock 
unit and get rid of the after market junk. Is the stock gauge electric 
or bourdon tube type? How should I start to check it out/fix it?

I appreciate any and all help I can get with these problems. I know 
there are years of experience working with AMC iron out there. Thanks 
again.

Mike Klepp
'62 Rambler Classic Custom
'65 Chevy C-10
'53 Ford Customline
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